Chamberlink Issue 2 - Pitch Perfect in Vienna

ChamberLink

Pitch Perfect in Vienna

Enterprise Europe Network supporting ambitious SMEs to grow internationally

Jonathan Power, CEO, Voxbet.

ChamberLink

Housing tops the agenda

It has been a busy quarter, with a welcome appetite in the business community to engage and connect. We delivered an ambitious schedule of events and look forward to another busy season ahead. There has been opportunity for further international travel through which we represented the Cork region as well as welcoming in-bound delegations.

Cork continues to be an attractive destination for foreign direct investment (FDI). There has been a wealth of positive announcements across the region over the last three months and the enhancement of our international reputation as a global destination for business continues to be a priority of the Chamber.

In parallel, indigenous small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are at the very core of our communities, are valuable contributors to our economy. Their diversity requires a flexible ecosystem that can support their unique growth plans, ensuring that they continue to thrive. Our cover story features our Enterprise Europe Network Cork (EEN) programme which is a shining example of some of the supports available to help SMEs grow internationally.

The Cork Financial Services Forum welcomed a new Chairperson in May with Karen Conboy assuming the role after three years as vice-chair. Karen succeeds Eoin Motherway who led the forum for the 15 years since its inception. We thank Eoin for his strong advocacy of the IFS sector in Cork and we wish Karen the very best of luck during her two-year term.

Business confidence remains high, but there are challenges and threats to business growth that must be addressed. Our Q2 2023 Economic Trends (enclosed) measures business sentiment from the previous quarter and outlook for Q3 2023. The results continue to inform our lobbying activity through our meetings and submissions, and will help shape our Budget 2024 submission.

We must continue to harness that confidence to fuel our dreams, determination and pride in our region. Navigating the many challenges, with that confidence, will continue to be a transformative force in Cork’s business ecosystem elevating our global reputation, and inspiring future generations to dream big.

Enjoy the read!

Conor

Conor Healy CEO, Cork Chamber

T: +353 (0)87 9471858

E: conor@corkchamber.ie

Fitzgerald House, Summerhill North, Cork, T23 TD90

CorkChamber.ie

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SelectUSA 2023

4 Award-winning Economic Trends

5 Annual General Meeting 2023

6 Cork Access Network

7 AI: About to turn the business world upside down?

8 Mapping out the future of Cork City

10 Climate change, diversity and the future of business

11 ESB & Ørsted unveil partnership

12 Housing tops the agenda

14 Next Generation Leaders: Leadership that cultivates talent

16 EirGrid - Shaping our offshore energy future

18 Karen Conboy - New Chair of the Cork Financial Services Forum

19 SelectUSA Summit 2023

20 Pitch Perfect in Vienna

38

Cover Image: Kate Popova, Everywhere English and Grace Kelleher, Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) Executive, Cork Chamber.

Focus on public affairs and sustainability

Ashley Amato has been appointed to the role of Public Affairs and Sustainability Executive. Ashley has been with the team for the last year as maternity cover, and previously undertook research for Cork Chamber as part of her Masters programme on “Anaerobic Digestion: A Circular Solution for Energy Resilience”.

She holds a BBus in Tourism and Hospitality Management from MTU and a MSc in Co-operatives, Agri-

Mix your Mode seminar

The Transport and Mobility Forum (TMF) celebrated its 10 year anniversary with their annual Mix your Mode seminar on April 21st at Cork City Millennium Hall. The seminar reflected on the evolution of public and active travel over the last 10 years and looked forward to the future vision for how Corkonians will travel in the future and the challenges and opportunities we will face along the journey.

The event heard from Bernie Connolly, Cork Environmental Forum; Clare Deasy; Damien O’Tuama, An Taisce; Stephen Hackett and Emma Love, Irish Rail; and Stephan Koch, UCC.

The TMF is a representative group of organisations with a common interest in sustainable and active travel and Cork Chamber supports the forum. The forum takes a non-sectoral approach to influence infrastructure and policy, and promotes and supports sustainable and active travel in and around Cork. Originally established as a once off steering group for a promotional event, the TMF is now a best-practice example of cross sectoral collaboration between local stakeholders in the private and public sector who wish to make a real difference in promoting sustainable travel.

food and Sustainable Development from UCC. Ashley is an experienced researcher with sustainability expertise in key areas that concern our membership including energy, agrifood and transport.

She will continue to utilise and expand her expertise to evolve the Sustainable Cork Programme and further embed sustainability in the Chamber’s public affairs work to drive real change across business and government.

Award-winning Economic Trends

Chambers Ireland held the Annual Chamber Awards, sponsored by Zurich Insurance, recently at the Killashee Hotel. These awards are a wonderful celebration and recognition of all the efforts of Chambers throughout the country. Cork Chamber was shortlisted in four categories:

• Event of the Year: Cork Digital Marketing Awards 2022

• Lobbying & Policy Campaign: Securing Electric Trains for Cork

• Communications & Representation: Economic Trends Report

• Sustainability & SDGs: Sustainable Cork Programme

Cork Chamber was awarded the prize for the ‘Communications & Representation’ category for the Cork Chamber Economic Trends report. Economic Trends is a quarterly report produced by Cork Chamber that takes the pulse of Cork businesses and serves to engage with and inform on important issues for the future of businesses in the Cork region.

Economic Trends, is sponsored by Permanent TSB, and a copy of the Q2 Economic Trends is circulated with this edition of ChamberLink and can be found online at www.corkchamber.ie

Pictured are Fiona Candon, President Chambers Ireland; Joe Creegan, Head of Corporate Life & Pensions, Zurich Life Assurance (sponsors of the award); Bo Browne, Marketing & Communications Manager Cork Chamber and Ian Talbot CEO, Chambers Ireland.

Annual General Meeting 2023

An era of exciting change ahead for Cork was conveyed at the 204th Cork Chamber AGM at the Imperial Hotel

In his address Cork Chamber President, Ronan Murray spoke about the resilience of Cork businesses in the face of uncertainty created by war on our continent, energy prices and wider inflation.

A vision for the city’s future was mapped out by President Ronan Murray who depicted Cork as a lighthouse city with sustainability at its core. He said advancements needed to progress the city in areas such as infrastructure were a top priority for Chamber, “Cork has the potential to be a global renewable energy hub and the Chamber ensured that at the highest levels of government, the investments needed to develop the port and energy infrastructure to deliver on this promise were prioritised.”

“We do need to accelerate the harnessing of our natural advantages like offshore wind and continue to attract the best and brightest to our city region,” he added.

At the AGM Rob Horgan of Velo Coffee Roasters was announced as Cork Chamber Vice President, “Rob has been a great asset to the team, the Board and membership in recent years. I have no doubt he will continue to be in the years ahead,” said President Ronan Murray. Newly elected board members were also announced on the evening, Michael Harte of Dairygold and Maria Desmond of Enable Ireland.

Concluding the AGM, Ronan Murray finally, expressed thanks to outgoing board members, former Cork Chamber President Paula Cogan of Cognate Health, Pankaj Agarwal of PepsiCo, Deirdre Waldron of Fuzion Communications, Niall Kenny of AB Sales, and Clair Murphy of Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals.

Joe Gantly Prize in Engineering

The Joe Gantly Prize in Engineering was created by Cork Chamber to honour the late Joe Gantly, a distinguished graduate of Trinity College Dublin in Civil Engineering. Throughout his career, Joe made notable contributions to both industry and education in the Cork region. His achievements include serving as the Director of European Operations at Apple Computers, President of Cork Chamber, Chairman of the Cork Airport Authority, and as a Governor of UCC.

The establishment of this prize serves as a commemoration of Joe’s remarkable impact on Cork’s business community and his involvement with UCC. Annually, the prize is presented to the top-performing student in the Work Placement module of the BE (Hons) programme at UCC.

Congratulations are in order for Colum Mulhall, who emerged as the winner of the Joe Gantly Prize. Colum successfully completed his work placement as part of his MEng (Civil, Structural, and

Environmental) degree with Arup. Additionally, recognition is due to the joint runners-up, Anna O’Sullivan and Conor Moloney, for their outstanding achievements. Well done to all!

Pictured are Michael Harte, Dairygold; Ronan Murray, President Cork Chamber; Maria Desmond, Enable Ireland; Rob Horgan, Vice President Cork Chamber and Conor Healy, CEO Cork Chamber. Photo: John Roche

Professor Jorge Oliveira, Head of School of Engineering, UCC and Naoimh Frawley, Director of People, Operations & Governance, Cork Chamber with prize winner Colum Mulhall and his parents.

Cork Access Network - “Is féidir leat”

Established in 2020, the Cork Access Network (CAN) has been diligently addressing educational disadvantages in the Cork Region. Under the capable leadership of Chair Dr. Barry O’Connor, the network brings together various entities, including Cork City Council as a partner of Cork Learning Cities, Cork Education and Training Board, Munster Technological University, University College Cork, and industry partners such as Janssen and Cork Chamber.

Recently, CAN organised a workplace learning breakfast at MTU, generously sponsored by Cork Chamber Skillnet. This event served as a platform to showcase a range of effective and inspiring approaches to accessibility that have been developed locally. Through collaborative efforts between Cork-based companies and education partners, significant strides have been made in eliminating barriers to education and employment. The event covered various topics, including practical examples of workplace learning initiatives like bridge-to-

employment programs, leadership programs, disability and inclusion initiatives, as well as providing attendees with information on workplace support schemes.

CAN firmly believes in ensuring that no one is left behind, as encapsulated in their motto, “Is féidir leat” - Yes, You Can. Each example presented during the event demonstrated what can be accomplished through collaboration and concerted efforts to overcome access challenges.

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Chair Dr. Barry O’Connor, (seated) with Cork Access Network Committee Members including Naoimh Frawley, Director of People, Operations & Governance, Cork Chamber (standing second from right).

AI: About to turn the business world upside down?

AI seems set to turn the world of business upside down with a rapidly developing range of intelligent systems like ChatGPT that will change the nature of work and business - but how much of an impact will it have in the short term? Are we set for a slow-burn evolution or overnight revolution?

The European Parliament’s Think Tank on AI found that 14% of jobs in OECD countries are highly automatable and another 32% could face substantial changes, while Goldman Sachs have been busy putting the wind up the world’s workers by saying 300 million jobs could be displaced by AI.

CEO of the digital agency and AI software developer, Spéire, Stephen Wilson Downey said: “The industry is in its infancy, and everyone should see this as a huge opportunity. ChatGPT is open to the masses and it is the first chance for people to use AI as a tool as part of their day-to-day activities. But AI can’t sit there and imagine, it is still quite stupid. What ChatGPT has done is produce the illusion of creating something.”

On the frightening scale of potential for job losses, Wilson Downey wholeheartedly disagreed with the Goldman Sachs estimates, saying they were highly inaccurate: “It’s bonkers. Who produced that metric? How do they know? Who can predict the future? There is good and bad with everything and we can see that with the internet.”

“AI is a machine and a machine needs an operator. If you think back to the invention of the Spinning Jenny for textile production, it automated tasks and made the process more efficient and lower cost, creating jobs not destroying them, because demand for the cheaper products and efficiency of production rose.”

“What’s most likely is that 300 million jobs will change with AI, not be displaced,” he said.

So what is AI most useful for in business? “It is most useful for automating dead administrative tasks such as transferring one piece of information from one piece of software into another piece of software because the two pieces of software can’t talk to each other, AI can do that and it will free up people to do their real job.”

By automating those dead and time-consuming tasks, “people to people interaction will increase and will become a more important part of people’s jobs,” he said.

There are potential downsides to every new technology and Wilson Downey said “the EU was leading the way globally on this, with the development of an EU legal framework to manage risks with AI which should protect people and businesses from misuse of AI for surveillance and misuse of data. The framework is designed to make sure AI is applied ethically, and that built-in bias is identified and rebalanced. All of this will create jobs in monitoring of AI rather than destroy them.”

In his own business, Spéire, they are already moving from using Github for coding to embracing Co-pilot which works with programmers to do a significant proportion of the repetitive coding that programmers and software

developers face as a key part of their job.

AI is already being deployed by larger companies who already have structured data where they can apply AI to automate but smaller businesses are struggling to know where to start. Stephen continued they should go to Enterprise Ireland or their Local Enterprise Office to take advantage of the digital transformation grant to find where they can harness it for their business.

AI will certainly bring disruption to businesses and particular sectors: “In 5-10 years AI will be able to produce a well-functioning website, so while there will be AI operators [jobs to manage the AI creating the websites] which will be more efficient, web designers will have to evolve and change,” Wilson Downey said.

This is a signal to businesses that they do need to start preparing for the oncoming AI transformation and start thinking about how they can apply it in their business. Wilson Downey believes workers will ultimately be happier working with AI because it will free them from monotonous tasks, freeing them up for more creative and peoplecentred tasks.

It is clear that AI presents both a monumental challenge and opportunity for businesses, how quickly that transformation will play out remains to be seen.

Rory Kelleher, Director of Public Affairs, Sustainability and Communications and Stephen Wilson Downey, CEO Spéire discuss AI

Mapping out the future of Cork City

Cork City is set to be mapped out in the new Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP). The LECP is a six-year plan that sets out the objectives and actions needed to promote the community and economic development of Cork city’s neighbourhoods and communities.

The Chamber was asked to deliver our views on one main question, “When dreaming big on the possibilities for the future of Cork City in 20 years: what inspires you and what trends or drivers of change can’t be ignored if we are to get there?”

What does the future look like? As we see it, and as our members envision it:

• We see a thriving and diverse business community.

• World class research and education institutes.

• A strong, diverse and multipronged economy and society enriched by our culture and arts.

• Cork as a location of excellence and innovation to flatten our climate curve;

All these visions supported by the right climate for a growing population with high density housing, a wellconnected sustainable public transport network, and a deep diverse talent pool.

What can’t be ignored to get here? Our members have identified four main interlinked areas.

HOUSING

Housing continues to be the number one concern for our members specifically high-density apartments on brownfield sites. For instance, the Docklands, an area of huge potential for Cork in terms of placemaking, business, and sustainability. The Docklands has potential for 10,000 homes but in order to unlock this potential joined up thinking is required.

A collaborative approach will allow for the delivery of key pieces of this jigsaw puzzle such as the delivery of the M28 which will allow for the relocation of the Port of Cork activities out of the city and into the lower harbour.

SKILLS, INTEGRATION, TALENT ATTRACTION AND RETENTION

Cork’s economic opportunities are all linked to the need for skills. Skills building is required to fulfil future needs,

for example as we transition to an energy system run 100% on renewables, and also to ensure we can continue to attract high quality and diverse talent.

To attract and retain the skills needed to propel our city, and also to achieve our goals set out in the National Development Plan, we need to ensure Cork remains attractive to investment and talent.

ENERGY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND CLIMATE ACTION

Energy, security, sustainability and deployment of renewables will be key to Cork’s ability to tackle climate action. Cork’s designation as a 2030 climate neutral city requires faster change and diverse leadership to drive this agenda forward.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND CONNECTIVITY

Active travel as well as getting people out of cars and onto public transport is one of the easiest ways to decarbonise our city region, decongest our roads, improve air quality, and attract international talent who expect to have a comprehensive public transport system to get around. The Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy will play a key role in achieving this vision. Parallel to this is improving our regional, national and international connectivity.

Our Public Affairs team attended two workshops, hosted by Cork City Council, that were designed to stimulate thought and conversation, and also to help shape a vision for a thriving city. We were given the opportunity at both workshops to put forward our views as informed by our members.

While well-intentioned and very important, strategies and vision alone are not enough to drive change. Implementation in a large scale and bold manner is required to reap the benefits from these four interlinked areas that we see not only as economic enablers but also as a catalyst to further develop a truly sustainable, inclusive and thriving city.

“ Cork City Council’s workshops generated thought provoking discussions and the feedback was also mapped out visually on the night by an artist (pictured). Both Fiona O’Donovan and Ashley Amato from our Public Affairs team gave presentations on the night (pictured) which represented the priorities of our members.

Cork Chamber has also submitted to the Cork County Council Local Economic and Community Plan, 2023-2029 which will guide and shape our county and the communities that live within it over the next six years. As the population in the county continues to rise it is vital that this plan sets out a roadmap for future growth and improvement. “

Climate change, diversity and the future of business

Our vision for Ireland Inc 2.0 was top of the agenda at our latest Thought Leaders Council in May, bringing together the key challenges of climate change, innovation, diversity and inclusion to drive our future competitiveness.

With Marie Donnelly, Chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council, and Caroline O’Driscoll, International Tax Partner, Deloitte and co-founder of iWish speaking, there was deep insight delivered into how climate change, technology and diversity will shape the future of business.

Marie Donnelly emphasised that we should make sure we reap the full benefits of our renewable resources, especially offshore, pointing to the need to “not just export electrons” from our planned offshore windfarms but build industries in Ireland around this resource to add value to the clean energy we are going to generate. The dispersed nature of offshore wind also means that a more balanced national economy spread around our coasts could be created from the tapping of offshore renewables.

Marie said in terms of businesses’ climate journey, companies really needed to first focus on energy and how they use it as a starting point on their journey to decarbonisation and cost savings, and make it core to their strategy.

On innovation and the tech industry in Ireland, Caroline O’Driscoll illustrated how recent layoffs in the sector were a tiny proportion of the massive hiring undertaken in Ireland over the last number of years. She also illustrated how there was no end in sight to the massive corporate tax bonanza Ireland is experiencing from the transfer of intellectual property.

Caroline pointed to inclusion and diversity barriers as holding Ireland back, with the lack of STEM subjects available for girls in many secondary schools a key barrier to building the Ireland Inc 2.0 we need. She showed how support and work was needed to change mindsets, to make sure that girls believed they could be successful as an engineer or a physicist and pursue that career.

Her key question to the audience was ‘what is our vision for Ireland Inc 2.0’ with the world changing at a rapid pace and a constant need to innovate?

Increasing the speed of change with which we move to both tackle climate change and diversity in Ireland was an overarching take-away from both speakers, and real progress on climate change and diversity was central to an Ireland 2.0 which continues to thrive on the global stage.

There was huge engagement in the Q&A that followed with the two speakers demonstrating how both the priorities of climate change and inclusion and diversity are now core to their operations and future success.

ESB and Ørsted unveil partnership

Ireland’s renewable energy journey hits a major milestone as ESB and Ørsted partnership was announced by Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Simon Coveney TD

Cork Chamber hosted the announcement that ESB and Ørsted have partnered to develop a series of offshore wind projects worth billions of euros. It represents another significant advancement in Ireland’s commitment to develop a thriving robust offshore wind sector.

“This is a key moment in the development of the country’s offshore wind sector and offers a huge opportunity to fully exploit our geographical position, enable greater energy security and independence, drive forward our climate targets and boost our economy,” said Conor Healy, Cork Chamber CEO.

“This partnership represents a multi-billion euro deal with the potential for up to five gigawatts of renewable energy to be generated from the joint venture.

Both ESB and Ørsted have the skills, expertise, foresight and vision to achieve this success and today’s announcement is a significant leap forward in Ireland’s renewable energy story.”

“Cork is emerging as a leading renewable energy hub and we were therefore delighted to be associated with this announcement which was made at Cork Chamber. I hope this new venture will help to reshape Ireland’s energy landscape as ESB journey with Cork headquartered Ørsted to create a sustainable future”, he said.

About the Compliance Institute

The Compliance Institute is the professional body for compliance professionals in Ireland. With 3,250 plus members, it is the premier provider of education and professional development in compliance and is the leading authoritative voice on matters relating to regulatory compliance and business ethics in industry in the country.

The purpose of the Compliance Institute is to equip Compliance Professionals and those who deal with compliance and regulation with the necessary competence and skills to undertake their roles in a professional manner. The Compliance Institute’s ethos of ongoing close collaboration with regulators, educational partners, industry bodies, stakeholders, compliance professionals and students, works towards embedding compliance as an enabler of business.

Compliance Institute - Membership Benefits

● University/Professional Accreditation Qualifications

● Professional Development

● Have your voice heard

● Build your personal brand

● Member discounts for flagship events

● Hear about relevant career opportunities

● Membership Committees & Working Groups

● Utilise our Compliance resources to keep your knowledge up to date

Southwest Regional Chapter Launch - July 13th

Compliance Institute

Compliance Institute is excited to announce the launch of our Southwest Regional Chapter!

The chapter will provide you with the opportunity to Learn about Compliance topics and emerging trends, providing unique member networking and facilitate Regulatory discussions and best practice sharing.

If you would like to get involved please contact info@compliance.ie

Marguerite Sayers, Deputy CEO ESB; Duncan Clarke, Senior Vice President, Ørsted; Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Simon Coveney TD; Jim Dollard, Executive Director, Generation & Trading, ESB; Kieran White, Senior Vice President, Europe Onshore, Ørsted. Photo: John Allen Photography

Housing tops the agenda

The magnitude of the housing shortage and its impact on economic growth was conveyed to the Taoiseach during his visit to Cork Chamber.

The focus of the meeting, which was attended by industry representatives, some of the region’s largest employers as well as senior politicians including Minister Simon Coveney TD, was to identify solutions that would enable Cork to deliver housing for its growing population and employment base.

“We held a very constructive meeting with An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD, at which we brought together representatives from our diverse membership, who shared their experiences. Cork is in a very positive place but to remain competitive and ensure continued economic growth, areas such as housing, infrastructure and public transport need continued collective investment and focus,” said Ronan Murray, Cork Chamber President.

“We welcome the Government’s support to date in these areas, and following today’s meeting we are hopeful further necessary supports will be put in place to increase housing supply,” he added.

Commenting, Conor Healy CEO Cork Chamber said: “An Taoiseach’s engagement is very important for the region as housing remains the number one priority for businesses as an economic enabler. Viability of apartment construction has been highlighted in our reports as a key barrier to economic growth and today we again called on Government to consider targeted and time-bound tax-based measures including accelerated capital allowances and VAT reductions to make high density and brownfield development viable in line with international best practice.”

“Previous steps by government are welcome but we need to see a step change, and quickly, in order to relieve some of the pressure in the market. We also highlighted the need to increase the income threshold for the cost-rental scheme to allow more people to access it. In addition, we have asked government to revisit the qualifying criteria for the Croí Cónaithe Cities scheme, specifically to remove the 100% owner occupier condition to encourage investment and increase rental availability.”

Images: Darragh Kane

The acceleration of the timeline for delivery of Cork Light Rail was also raised with the Taoiseach. “FDI and talent attraction are dependent on an efficient high functioning city, in order to achieve this we have to aim to provide the same offering as other major European cities,” said Conor Healy.

“There is potential to accelerate the delivery timeline of Cork Light Rail and this will also prove crucial in meeting our climate targets. We spoke to the Taoiseach about the necessity to shorten the current projected timelines for the project.”

Other items on the agenda included energy security and renewables deployment, and Cork’s climate neutral journey to 2030.

Leadership that cultivates talent

In the latest in this Next Gen series, Deloitte partner, Kevin Butler, speaks with Linda Jordan, Executive Director of Human Resources in Eli Lilly. Linda shares her leadership journey and experiences leading a variety of different teams, from never turning down an opportunity to the importance of spending time with your team.

Executive Director of Human Resources in Eli Lilly, Linda Jordan, tells Kevin Butler, Deloitte, how from an early age the satisfaction of a job well done helped her to hone skills she would use throughout her career.

Launching into Leadership: The Beginning of a Journey

My Leadership journey started way back in my college years, when I started a Supervisor position in Centra in the City Centre. Even at that early age, work was something which I wanted to excel at, for no other reason than to do a good job, and go home feeling I had done my best.

Being a supervisor of a diverse group of people, many times working late shifts into the night, brought a sense of responsibility which I loved. I relished the fact that I was able to run the shop, open, close, perform stocktakes, manage cash and banking transactions etc. I also realised I was good with people, they listened to me, I was able to build trust easily, and motivate my team to be the best!

As I reflect back these were skills that I have come to realise are important in all careers. After getting my BSc in Accounting in UCC, I completed my Chartered Accounting training. As a trainee, I struggled at the start, being back to a place where I knew very little, and the learning curve was steep. Through some wonderful

mentors and management support I received along the way, about a year into my training, everything just clicked.

I started taking on work independently, leading audit teams, and supporting our newer intakes on their journey. Throughout my time training, what I loved most was watching our newer team members come up the curve, developing them to deal with more complex matters, and tougher stakeholders.

A Pivotal Move

After a few years of travel, I heard about Lilly in Cork setting up a Global Solutions Centre in Cork. Knowing what a strong brand Lilly had in the local and global market, I decided to apply.

This was to be the start of an amazing and exciting Leadership journey for me, as I joined Lilly in 2010 as a Financial Analyst in the General Accounting department. About a year later, I got my first taste for management, within the Purchase to Pay organisation. This was a relatively small team, and included managing an Outsourced partner.

There were a lot of changes happening at the time, both technically and structure-wise, and I brought a level of detailed focus which was required for the role. However there were learnings for me too. I could have delegated more, as many of my team were extremely strong, in both technical knowledge and issue resolution. What I have learned on my Leadership journey is, you need to trust your team, provide Strategic guidance and guardrails (if needed), and you will be pleasantly surprised with what comes back! Building trust with your team has to start with a meaningful connection. Through spending quality time with your team, getting to know their strengths and development areas, being genuinely interested in them, you will build a positive culture, where everyone is engaged and striving towards the same goals.

Taking On New Challenges

After my experience in Purchase to Pay, I’ve had some amazing opportunities to progress and develop. I was always very clear with my managers on what I wanted my career to look like. I would utilise my 1:1 time as best I could, providing pre-reads for any topics to be discussed, and making sure we found time to discuss my personal development too. I did not restrict myself to staying within Finance either. I took on roles within Strategic Projects and Compliance, which provided me a broader view of the organisation, expanding my network and knowledge along the way. I would always encourage people to be brave and take the leap into something new when the opportunity arises.

I recognise I am also very lucky to work for a company like Lilly, where everyone’s development is taken seriously, and Lilly does not restrict development only within your core role/competencies. There is an openness to trying new things, if you demonstrate a hunger and energy to take on a new challenge, you will certainly find one here!

One of the pivotal moments in my career was back in 2019, when I took on a large site wide Strategic project, around our Flexibility model in Cork. This involved linking in with all leaders across the site, understand their business needs, their people needs, and how we could balance the two. This resulted in the rollout of a successful Framework for our employees to be able to avail of a number of new and enhanced flexibility options. This project really helped me to understand how our Leaders operate, what is important to them, and how I could help them achieve their goals.

Of course, what is important to every leader did not waverit is our People. This is why we are in these leadership roles, to help our people thrive, feel fulfilled and energised in their work, and see them achieve their career aspirations over time.

Working Hard and The Journey Ahead

Right now I am the Executive Director of HR for our Cork, Kuala Lumper and Mexico sites. Stepping into this role from Finance was so exciting, I am learning so much, and feel I am having a direct impact on our People and Culture.

Looking back on the last 13 years, some of the elements which helped me be successful include working hard first, no matter what the role or topic, to achieve the best outcome. For me, that is still a fundamental part of my approach to work. I want to come in and do a good job every day, and bring 100% of my focus to my working day. I am very much a self-motivator, and can bring energy and passion to whatever I turn my hand to. I’ve also been flexible throughout my journey, never turning down a new opportunity or development role.

I trust in my wonderful management team to help me navigate my career. And who knows what the next 13 years may bring!

in association with

EirGrid – Shaping our offshore energy future

The national electricity grid operator needs to add more energy from renewable sources such as wind and solar to the power system in the years ahead.

Doing so is necessary to meet the Government target of producing up to 80% of electricity used in Ireland from clean renewable sources by 2030, on the way to ultimately becoming a net zero society by 2050.

A key pillar of this approach will be maximising the potential of offshore wind, a process in which EirGrid will play a leading role over the coming years.

By 2030, EirGrid aims to connect up to 5GW of offshore wind power to our national grid. This will mark the first step on a path that will ultimately see over 30GW of energy coming from offshore wind by 2050; more than enough to satisfy Ireland’s entire electricity need.

In March 2023, the Government published its policy statement on the Framework for Phase Two Offshore Wind that outlined a four-phase process for developing offshore wind energy infrastructure.

In the short-term, the framework is based on a developer-led approach, taking advantage of projects that have been in development for several years. In the medium to long-term this will transition to a plan-led approach.

STATE’S FIRST OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY AUCTION

Phase 1 of this framework is developer-led, with private developers responsible for delivering wind turbines as well as the offshore grid infrastructure to connect them to the onshore grid. EirGrid will be responsible for providing grid connections for these wind developments.

Ownership of the turbines will remain with the developers, with EirGrid then taking ownership of the offshore infrastructure connecting them to the grid when complete.

In May of this year, EirGrid announced the results of the State’s first auction as part of its Offshore Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (ORESS 1 auction). Of the six offshore wind energy developers which competed against each other to win contracts to provide electricity at the bid price for a twenty-year period, four bidders were successful in this auction. Three of these projects are located off the country’s east coast, and one off the west coast.

This auction secured over 3GW of capacity from four offshore wind projects at an average of €86.05/ MWh, enough to supply over 12 terawatt hours of renewable electricity per year. Further auctions are planned for later phases in order to achieve the Government’s 5GW ambition by 2030.

EIRGRID’S CENTRAL ROLE

Phase 2 of the framework marks the start of the plan-led approach outlined by Government, to be led by EirGrid. This critical phase will see up to 900 megawatts of renewable electricity from wind resources off Ireland’s south coast – enough to power almost a million homes.

The wind turbines will again be provided by private developers following a competitive auction process, but in this phase EirGrid will be responsible for delivering the infrastructure that will connect the power to the onshore grid.

This will be realised through EirGrid’s Shaping Our Offshore Energy Future programme, which will see offshore electricity substations placed off the south coast – one in an area off the coast of Cork, and one off the coast of Waterford or Wexford.

EirGrid will provide connections between these offshore substations and new onshore substations using undersea and underground electricity cables.

The additional existing grid capacity on the south coast means it is an ideal location in which to bring further renewable energy resources onto the grid.

EirGrid has a unique and challenging role to play in leading the radical transformation of the electricity sector to low-carbon, renewable energy.

To help inform communities and business stakeholders about what this phase will involve, EirGrid hosted a series of Public Information Events across the region in June.

These information sessions were in advance of a full public consultation involving more detailed plans for the programme, to take place in the autumn. The general public, communities and businesses in the region will be able to submit their views on the plans through this consultation, as outlined by EirGrid’s Head of Public Engagement Sinéad Dooley:

“It is absolutely vital that businesses and communities on the south coast are given every opportunity to talk to us about the Shaping Our Offshore Energy Future programme and make their views known, so that we can work together towards achieving Ireland’s climate goals.”

Construction work on EirGrid’s offshore connection infrastructure is expected to begin later this decade, to be completed in 2030 following a wide range of studies, extensive public consultation and robust consenting processes.

SECURING THE FUTURE OF IRELAND’S OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY SUPPLY

Whereas the initial two phases will involve the installation of fixedbottom turbines which can be deployed at scale in time to meet our 2030 targets, Phase 3 will aim to support the long-term potential for a floating offshore wind industry.

The Government has set an initial target of 2GW of floating offshore wind to be in development by the end of this decade. This may include the development of projects devoted to production of green hydrogen, to create the necessary environment to develop an indigenous hydrogen industry, and projects devoted to other nongrid uses.

Following on from Phase 3 at the end of this decade, the Enduring Regime of offshore wind energy supply will see greater State involvement in the development of the sector in terms of where projects are developed, when they are developed, and where the energy generated will be used.

This plan-led approach will optimise and expedite the development of offshore and onshore energy grid

infrastructure to enable Ireland to become a major regional producer and exporter of green energy, whilst bolstering domestic security of supply.

This will include future development by EirGrid and the private sector of additional European cross-border connectivity, such as point-to-point and hybrid electricity interconnectors, and offshore energy islands.

This ambitious and very necessary process of greening Ireland’s electricity grid will bring challenges for all involved, but it also offers tremendous opportunity as we move towards an economy powered by renewables including offshore wind.

Throughout this journey, EirGrid looks forward to exploring the opportunities that this transformation can bring for both industries and communities on the south coast.

Submitted by

CONNECTING CORK

Karen Conboy – New Chair of the Cork Financial Services Forum

Karen Conboy assumed the role of Chair of the Cork Financial Services Forum in May. Karen, the resident partner in KPMG Cork’s Financial Services practice, brings a wealth of experience, energy and ideas to the role having served as vice-chair of the Forum for the past three years. Karen takes over from Eoin Motherway who stepped down after 15 years involvement with the Forum.

David Bennett, Partner at EY Cork, was elected as vice-chair of the Forum in June and has been an active member of the forum since he established EY’s financial services office in Cork in 2019.

On accepting the role of Chair, Karen outlined her ambitions for the International Financial Services (IFS) sector in Cork and what she wants to achieve during her tenure

“Cork is Ireland’s second city for financial services and I am excited

to lead our Forum group as we look to maximise the opportunities for further development of the sector in the region through engagement with industry, government, educators and all stakeholders in the IFS sector. In particular, the ability to attract and develop the next generation of IFS talent in Cork will be key to achieving the Forum’s ambitions for Cork IFS”.

The Cork Financial Services Forum, led by Karen and David, has an exciting and ambitious programme of activity for the remainder of 2023. The industryled Forum works together to enhance a vibrant IFS ecosystem, promote Cork as a destination for investment and talent, and provide a supportive environment for existing businesses, potential new entrants and their teams.

We wish Karen every success and look forward to supporting her and David during their term.

New Jersey business mission to Cork

In April 2022 Cork welcomed its first delegation in a number of years when Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey led a large delegation Leeside as part of a four-day visit to Ireland. At the Cork Chamber luncheon in the Clayton Hotel Gov. Murphy told the room of academic, business and political leaders of his clear vision for consolidating and expanding the close economic ties between Cork and New Jersey. The New Jersey Governor has been true to his word taking several actions to deepen connections including the opening of the Choose New Jersey Ireland Office late last year.

To further enhance this relationship, in May 2023, Cork Chamber, in collaboration with ChooseNJ, hosted a roundtable briefing and discussion with Steve Lenox, Director of the New Jersey Ireland Centre, and Bill Noonan, Choose New Jersey’s Director of Business Development. The roundtable was attended by Chamber members and

key stakeholders from Cork where Steve and Bill shared their thoughts on why New Jersey is the ideal location for Cork companies to do business, and ChooseNJ’s vision for an expanding relationship between Cork and New Jersey.

The Connecting Cork initiative enables Cork Chamber to build and grow strategically important relationships for our members across the US. The State of New Jersey is a key relationship fostered by the Chamber over recent years.

Newly elected Vice-Chair David Bennett, Partner at EY Cork with Chair of the Cork Financial Services Forum Karen Conboy, Resident Partner in KPMG.

SelectUSA Summit 2023

Cork Chamber works to build and maintain relations with investment and trade institutions in the US to aid our members in growing their businesses across America. In May, CEO Conor Healy represented Cork Chamber at the SelectUSA Global Investment Summit in Washington DC. The 50-person strong delegation of Irish businesses and organisations was again led by H.E. US Ambassador to Ireland Claire Cronin this year. The SelectUSA Summit is the highest-profile event in the US dedicated to promoting inward investment and the only event where representatives from all 50 states come together to showcase the benefits of expanding into their State.

With each state represented in the one location it allows for great insight into the various investment propositions open to Irish businesses looking to the USA. It also provides the opportunity of connecting Cork with those locations in the US where we already have strong investment relationships through the great work of the IDA Ireland and Cork Chamber extensive network fostered through the years. The breakout sessions led by policy and industry experts were designed to provide practical information to companies considering investing in the US on relevant topics such as developing a workforce to site selection. While the morning plenary sessions provide a macro view of the current economic and labour conditions from Governors and senior Federal Government Officials.

As ever, Irish Ambassador to the US Geraldine Byrne Nason and her Embassy Team provided an outstanding

welcome and support to the visiting delegation. While Enterprise Ireland, led by CEO Leo Clancy and his US based colleagues, are always on hand to support clients participating on the mission. Ambassador Byrne Nason’s welcome reception offered the opportunity to meet with delegates and representatives such as Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey who has strong Cork family links.

It was great to see colleagues from the Chambers Ireland network represented on the delegation with colleagues from Galway Chamber, County Kildare Chamber, Waterford Chamber, Dublin Chamber and the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland delivering a very positive message of Irish innovation and investment opportunities.

The US Embassy Ireland’s SelectUSA Team undertake a massive amount of work to ensure that that all runs smoothly throughout the week for the

Irish delegation. Cork Chamber will continue to work with The US Embassy to promote investment opportunities in the US.

If you are interested in entering the US market, growing your presence there or joining next year’s SelectUSA summit please contact cathal@corkchamber.ie

Conor Healy, CEO Cork Chamber with Maura Healey, Governor of Massachusetts.

Paul Nolan, President Waterford Chamber; Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister of State at the Department of Finance; Conor Healy, CEO Cork Chamber; Claire Cronin US Ambassador to Ireland; Geraldine Byrne Nason, Ambassador of Ireland to the United States; Kenny Deery, CEO Galway Chamber and Sinéad Ronan, Public Affairs Manager, County Kildare Chamber.

Pitch Perfect in Vienna

The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) at Cork Chamber is dedicated to helping SMEs innovate and grow on an international scale

Vienna was buzzing with excitement and vibrant energy as it played host to the 7th International B2B Software Days event from May 8th - 9th, 2023. This remarkable event, organised by the Austrian Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), in collaboration with EEN Cork Chamber, Enterprise Ireland and Dublin Chamber, brought together over 1,000 visionary entrepreneurs, industry experts, investors and innovators from across the globe. Their goal? To connect, collaborate and embrace the cutting-edge trends and advancements in global software development.

Spanning two days, the International B2B Software Days 2023 was held at the resplendent Vienna City Hall, presenting both start-ups and established software businesses the opportunity to strengthen their relationships and forge new international partnerships. An Irish delegation of over 15 companies and organisations travelled to the venue. The first day of the event treated attendees to a vibrant range of informative panel sessions and enlightening keynote speakers. The immersive experience offered participants the opportunity to interact, exchange ideas, and unearth new software development prospects through the B2B meetings, and hands-on

workshops. Among the captivating topics that ignited discussion were artificial intelligence, quantum computing, funding possibilities, IP protection, FIWARE applications and blockchain technologies.

IRELAND DAY

The second day, aptly dubbed ‘Ireland Day’, was dedicated to showcasing the best of Irish innovation. Irish organisations took centre stage, delving into the tapestry of the software industry in Ireland and sharing invaluable insights derived from their own remarkable business journeys. The line up of speakers included Edward McDonnell of CeADAR Ireland, Maurice Lynch and John Pugh of Nathean Analytics, Gary Conroy of TransferMate Global Payments, Stephen O’Leary of Olytico, Fiona Delany of Origin Chain Networks and Mark Jordan of Skillnet Ireland. Ireland has long been an international hub for software companies and start-ups. These remarkable speakers showcased Ireland’s enduring allure as a hub for software companies, innovation and start-ups, captivating the audience with the investment and growth opportunities our nation has to offer.

One of the standout workshops at the event was run by CyberSkills Ireland, a cyber security education provider based in Munster Technological University (MTU). They delivered a fascinating workshop on the topic of “Effective AppSec and Cybersecurity Risk Management”. Offering practical advice to safeguard businesses against the ever-evolving digital landscape’s cyber threats, this workshop struck a chord and provided a solid foundation for organisations to remain resilient and secure.

PITCHING BATTLE

Amid the collective triumphs and inspiring moments, one tale emerged as the epitome of success during the event—

Everywhere English, a truly inspirational Cork start-up. Kate Popova is the co-founder of the English language learning solution company, which is aimed at ensuring businesses increase their return on investment and maximise profits by helping teams connect and reach their full potential.

Kate is a valued client of EEN Cork Chamber and works closely with EEN Advisor, Grace Kelleher, who has been providing guidance on expanding internationally. Kate successfully applied to take part in the event’s “Pitching Battle” as part of her ongoing work with Grace. The pitching battle afforded the chosen applicants an opportunity to pitch to a judging panel of investors. Kate received pitch coaching in preparation for the event.

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Margaret Urbanowicz Sómas Studio

Companies from all over Europe networked at the event in Vienna City Hall.

Kate’s pitch impressed the judges and secured second place, fending off stiff competition from eight other established international businesses. This remarkable achievement serves as a testament to the limitless potential of start-ups and signals a thrilling journey of growth ahead for Kate. Furthermore, Kate’s captivating performance resulted in numerous business and client leads from networking opportunities available at the event, including interest from an investor who was judging at the pitching battle. EEN Cork Chamber also worked with her to secure a grant from the Local Enterprise Office in South Cork, which covered part of the cost of the trip to Vienna. The EEN at Cork Chamber looks forward to supporting Everywhere English further, throughout the lifecycle of their business.

Overall, the 7th International B2B Software Days 2023 event proved to be a great success for the attendees, including Everywhere English. Entrepreneurial success stories like this demonstrate what is possible when smaller businesses are given the right support and guidance. The EEN at Cork Chamber is committed to helping businesses in their innovation and internationalisation journeys.

If you are an SME looking to expand into international markets, we encourage you to connect with our EEN Advisor Grace Kelleher at grace@corkchamber.ie, to take advantage of the EEN’s extensive resources and services.

Enterprise Europe Network turns 15

The EEN at Cork Chamber is committed to empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to unleash their innovative potential and seize international growth opportunities.

With its comprehensive support and expert guidance, the EEN serves as the largest network backing SMEs, combining global business expertise with localised knowledge to pave the way for businesses venturing into new markets.

Among the invaluable services offered by the EEN at Cork Chamber, the standout feature is their highly effective business-to-business matchmaking events, designed to provide SMEs with an unrivalled platform to forge new business contacts and secure lucrative contracts.

Training Matters

Check out upcoming public courses across Leadership, Project Management & Neuroscience offerings

High Performance Leadership by Live Unbound

Mon 11th Sept | 2pm-4pm | online 6 sessions

Member Price €400

Ignite Your Leadership Potential with Live Unbound’s dynamic and transformative leadership development program. From personal leadership and emotional intelligence to building high-performance teams and fostering a positive work culture, this program equips participants with the skills and mindset necessary to lead with confidence and drive remarkable results.

MTU Diploma in Project Management – Level 8 Special Purpose Award

Fri 6th Oct | part time | 6 months | online

Member Price €3080

With the emergence of Project Management as a standalone profession, international accreditation that is accepted across industries is becoming increasingly important. This course is suitable for individuals who may have practical experience of either being involved in projects or managing and leading projects but need to supplement this with the necessary education.

Personal Peak Performance – Energy Management

Fri 8th Sept 9:30am - 1:00pm

Member Price €200

The Neuro Performance course is for you if you want to improve your prioritisation skills and manage your energy better. For knowledge workers, the brain is the key organ that determines our performance. This course will help you to understand the ‘likes and limitations’ of the brain so you can avoid this overarousal and also give you the tools to plan for and achieve peak neuro performance.

Cork Chamber Skillnet is co-funded by Skillnet Ireland and network companies. Skillnet Ireland is funded from the National Training Fund through the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

Upcoming Events

For more information & bookings visit CorkChamber.ie

WED 12TH JULY | 10.15AM-11.30AM

The HR Barometer Pulse is the most comprehensive research report analysing the impacts, challenges and opportunities within the HR and Employment Law landscape in Ireland. It is an invaluable source of information, analysis and insights on the key issues and challenges facing HR Practitioners.

Key senior consultants from Adare Human Resource Management will share the findings of the latest HR Barometer Pulse and what these mean for HR Practitioners.

Cork Chamber’s Golf Classic will take place at the spectacular grounds of Castlemartyr Resort. The Castlemartyr Golf Resort was created by renowned golf course designer Ron Kirby, set in an old manor estate in East Cork it is an inland links style course that creates a visually pleasing yet testing experience.

This will be a 4-Person Team event and is always a fun, exciting day out with a chance to play at one of Cork’s picturesque golf courses. Don’t miss your chance to get your colleagues together for some team-building, informal networking or corporate entertainment!

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

THURS 31ST AUG | 7AM-2PM CASTLEMARTYR RESORT

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Sporting Lunch

Our Sporting Lunch took place on May 31st at Fota Island Resort where over 200 attendees enjoyed an inspiring panel discussion with some of Ireland’s sporting game changers expertly led by Marie Crowe.

Rory Best, former Irish Rugby Captain, shared his profound experiences and leadership lessons.

Damien Cahalane, a prominent member of the Cork Senior Hurling Team, brought a unique perspective, discussing the importance of selfbelief and perseverance.

Emily Hegarty, Irish Rower and Olympic Medallist, shared her journey of determination and sacrifice when reaching your goals.

Shane Walsh, a remarkable Gaelic Footballer from the Kilmacud Crokes Club, shared insights on resilience and the importance of passion for the game.

Business Breakfast

In association with RDJ LLP & Media Partner Irish Examiner

Cathal Divilly, CEO, Great Place to Work joined by Cork’s Best Workplaces

This Business Breakfast took place on March 29th at the Cork International Hotel.

Attendees had the opportunity to hear from Cathal Divilly, CEO of Great Place to Work Ireland followed by a panel discussion with Kevin O’Donovan, Senior Vice President, Statkraft, Kathleen Linehan, Strategic Director of Human Resources,Trigon Hotels, and Jim McGrath, Head of Finance, AbbVie Cork.

Each panellist shared their unique perspectives and experiences, giving attendees diverse insights and delving into the evolving employee experience and its pivotal role in shaping organisational culture.

The Business Breakfast on June 15th took place at Cork International Hotel and featured an insightful presentation from Kenny, focusing on his top priorities since assuming his new role, shedding light on his vision for the aviation industry and his plans for fostering sustainable growth and development within the daa group.

He also shared updates on Ireland’s airports, delivering a strong and optimistic message on Cork Airport’s strong recovery post-Covid.

At the Business Breakfast on April 27th at The Metropole Hotel, Dermot shared his ambitious vision for Cork City FC, focusing on strengthening partnerships with local businesses.

He shed light on his strategy to incorporate a customer-centric approach into the future business plan for Cork City FC, ensuring that the club resonates with its supporters and stakeholders while maximising its potential for success.

Dermot Usher, Cork City FC.

Alan Healy, Irish Examiner; Jamie Olden, RDJ LLP; Kenny Jacobs, daa; Annie FitzGibbon and Conor Healy, Cork Chamber.

Kathleen Linehan, Trigon Hotels; Jamie Olden, RDJ LLP; Ronan Murray, President Cork Chamber; Fania Stoney, Great Place to Work; Jim McGrath, AbbVie; Kevin O’Donovan, Statkraft; Naoimh Frawley, Cork Chamber; Cathal Divilly, Great Place to Work and Karen O’Donoghue, Irish Examiner.

Dermot Usher, Owner, Cork City FC

Kenny Jacobs, Chief Executive, daa

Cork Chamber CONNECTS with Limerick

Chamber

This interactive networking session took place on the March 31st and provided Cork Chamber members with the opportunity to connect, collaborate and gain valuable connections virtually with Limerick Chamber members.

The session featured virtual pitches, breakout rooms and engaging discussions, providing a dynamic and engaging experience for attendees.

HR Leadership Forum

In association with Adare Human Resource Management

The HR Leadership Forum gathered online on April 26th. Forum members had the opportunity to hear a HR update from Sarah Fagan, Managing Director, Adare Human Resource Management followed by a presentation from Anne Rigney, Director of Talent, Learning & Development, Musgrave Ireland who discussed the approach Musgrave have taken in linking organisational development activity, business goals and L&D strategies.

Networking at Noon at Musgrave MarketPlace

Our Networking at Noon took place on May 18th at Musgrave Marketplace. Attendees were treated to a one-of-a-kind experience, gaining valuable connections surrounded by the impressive Food Emporium and engaging product demonstrations from Product Development Manager, Chef Clement Pavie.

In association with Arachas

Kiara Daly, Barden with Barbara Culloty, Castlemartyr Resort.

Conor Healy and Annie FitzGibbon, Cork Chamber with Jason Finnegan, Musgrave MarketPlace.

Thought Leaders Council

Our Chamber Partners gathered at The Maryborough Hotel on May 11th to hear an update on Chamber activity from our Public Affairs team followed by insightful and thought provoking presentations from Marie Donnelly, Chairperson of the Climate Change Advisory Council and Caroline O’Driscoll, International Tax Partner, Deloitte

Leaders Lunch

In association with Grant Thornton

Our Leaders Lunch took place on June 22nd at The Montenotte Hotel and featured dynamic powerhouse, Jacqueline O’Donovan, the driving force behind the acclaimed O’Donovan Waste Disposal.

Jacqueline captivated attendees with her inspiring journey which started when she took over the family business at the age of 19.

During the lively Q&A, her unique leadership style, her passion for operational excellence and innovation, along with her commitment to sustainability clearly demonstrated the depth and breadth of her success.

TalentCon Munster

In partnership with Employment and Recruitment Federation

This event in partnership with ERF took place at the Clayton Hotel Cork City on June 22nd.

Attendees heard an overview of Cork business from Annie FitzGibbon, Director of Member Services, Cork Chamber and Ed Heffernan, Managing Partner, Barden & ERF Treasurer.

Keynote speakers, Caitriona Lannen-O’Brien, Senior Sales Leader, UK & Ireland, LinkedIn and Kevin Green, Chief People Officer, First Bus emphasised the importance of the human element in an increasingly digitised and automated recruiting landscape.

Michael Nolan, Grant Thornton; Jacqueline O’Donovan, O’Donovan Waste Disposal; Denise O’Connell, Grant Thornton; Ronan Murray, President Cork Chamber and Annie FitzGibbon, Director of Member Services Cork Chamber.

Caroline O’Driscoll, Deloitte; Rory Kelleher, Cork Chamber; Marie Donnelly, Climate Change Advisory Council and Conor Healy, CEO Cork Chamber.

Ed Heffernan, Barden & Treasurer, ERF, Jennifer Doyle, Contracting Plus, Caitriona Lannen O’Brien, LinkedIn, Kevin Green, First Bus and Bryan Hyland, Morgan McKinley & Chair, ERF.

John McGarry, PwC; Cathal Farrelly, DPS Group and Stephen Griffin, Boston Scientific Cork Ltd.

New Members Corner

We welcome the following new members

Advertising/Marketing/Market Research

Inflightflix International

InflightFlix is producing destination videos for Aer Lingus inflight entertainment, showcasing great things to do, places to go, stay, eat, drink and shop in Cork.

W: www.inflightflix.com

Virgin Media Solutions

We offer a extensive range of advertising solutions across our owned platforms to businesses looking to reach and engage with their target markets.

W: www.virginmediatelevision.ie/ solutions/home

Agribusiness

Malting Company of Ireland

Producers of premium quality Irish malted barley for the brewing and distilling industries.

W: www.maltingcompany.ie

Business Process Outsourcing/Contact Centre

Remedy Credit Control Solutions

Outsourced credit control management, offering services and consultancy. Collections, risk management and order to cash management.

W: www.remedyccs.ie

Charity Cancer Fund for Children Ireland

To provide the right emotional and therapeutic support to every young person under the age of 25, to help them cope better with cancer.

W: www.cancerfundforchildren.com

Cliona’s Foundation

Providing financial support to families nationwide caring for a child with a life limiting condition to help with nonmedical costs of caring.

W: www.clionas.ie

Charity Concern Worldwide

Our vision, our mission and our work are all defined by one goal ending extreme poverty, whatever it takes. We believe that no-one should have to live in fear that they won’t have a home to sleep in.

W: www.concern.net

Sanctuary Runners

Sanctuary Runners is a solidarity-throughsport movement founded in Cork to bring all in the community together including migrants, asylum seekers and refugees.

W: www.sanctuaryrunners.ie

Contracting Cleaning/Supplies

Boyle Cleaning

Boyle Cleaning are a specialised cleaning company for both your domestic and commercial properties. A rapid response unit is on call 24 hours a day, operating nationwide.

W: www.boylecleaning.com

Education/Training/Languages

Everywhere English

Everywhere English is a custom-built Edtech solution that employees and businesses can use to improve their level of business (industry-specific) English amongst teams and departments.

W: www.everywhereenglish.eu

Neuroperformance Ltd.

We provide coaching and training for individuals and teams.

W: www.desgolden.com

Engineering

Hibra Design

Hibra Design is an automotive design engineering company. We de-carbonise industrial vehicles by engineering battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell solutions.

W: www.hibra.ie

Entertainment/Leisure/Tourism

St Fin Barre’s Cathedral

St Fin Barre’s Cathedral is an important tourism, cultural and spiritual centre of pilgrimage at the heart of the St Fin Barre’s Quarter in Cork.

W: www.corkcathedral.webs.com

Event Management

Davis Events Agency

We specialise in creating engaging and unforgettable live events and experiences for some of the biggest brands, businesses and causes from all around the world.

W: www.davisevents.ie

Keniry Advisory Services

Keniry Advisory Services advise on opportunities in the delivery and management of infrastructure, energy, and housing projects.

W: www.keniryadvisoryservices.com

Financial Services/Pensions/Investment

Cork Credit Unions

Collective marketing group for Cork Credit Unions.

W: www.corkcreditunions.ie

O’Leary Life Ltd

O’Leary Life is one of Corks oldest and largest pension, investment and protection brokerages. Individual and Corporate, SME to PLC. Offering personalized expert advice.

W: www.olearylife.ie

Worldpay from Fis

Worldpay payment processing solutions allow merchants of all sizes to take, make and manage payments seamlessly.

W: www.worldpay.fisglobal.com

Fuel/Energy

Siemens Energy Ltd

At Siemens Energy, our mission is to empower our customers to meet the growing global demand for energy while transitioning to a more sustainable world.

W: www.siemens-energy.com

New Members Breakfast

FoodDrink

Ballinora Bees Irish Honey

Ballinora Bees produces healthy Irish Honey and Beeswax products sustainably, with a commitment to conservation and the circular economy.

W: www.ballinorabees.ie

Dukes Coffee Company

Cafes & catering serving exceptional coffee and food.

W: www.dukes.ie

Importer/Exporter

A F O’ Leary

Import/Export company supplying homeware to the retail sector. We also have a secondary company that provides pallet storage/order fulfilment to the pharma & retail sector.

W: www.homeandinteriortex.ie

Insurance/Financial Services

YComply

Provide financial services toward correct action, a more ethical culture and fairness. This ensures that our clients have complete trust in us, as well as in their own firm.

W: www.ycomply.ie

IT Services

Create Analytics Ltd

Providing cloud and data products and services to reduce or eliminate your onpremises footprint and unlock your data for state of the art insights.

W: www.cre8analytics.ie

Software Interactive Ltd.

We are a software development company with over 16 years of experience, 140 completed projects and over 170 Europebased developers.

W: www.softint.eu

Photography

Taidgh Richards Photography Company offers a range of photography and videography services to clients throughout Cork.

W: www.taidghrichardsphotography.com

Recruitment/Executive Search

Oxford Global Resources Company has 35+ years of experience delivering The Right Talent. Right Now®.

W: www.oxfordcorp.com

Removal/Storage

Wm. O’Brien Public Storage Ltd

Cork’s No 1 Storage provider for both commercial and domestic use. Provides 24/7 access and free use of a van to move your belongings in to storage.

W: www.publicstorage.ie

Renewable Energy

Focus Energy

Aiming to be Ireland’s premier renewable energy systems wholesaler.

W: www.focusenergy.ie

Inis Offshore Wind Ltd

Irish renewable energy firm working to enable a sustainable energy future for the people of Ireland.

W: www.inisoffshorewind.ie

Retail Rugs.ie

As peciality rug retailer with a physical store in Cork and a vast range online. We serve both the B2B and B2C market.

W: www.rugs.ie

Serviced & Virtual Offices

The Courthouse Hub

A new co-working space business offering companies and individuals flexible workspaces in the West Cork area for local remote workers or commuters in the area.

W: www.courthousehub.ie

Services

Wyse Virtual Services

Virtual Assistants can help streamline your work activities, providing flexible and costeffective business support - we offer HR consulting, with a range of administration services.

W: www.wysevirtualservices.ie

Software/Software Services

Premio B2B eCommerce

Unlock your online sales to achieve efficiencies and drive growth, with Premio B2B e-commerce from Just Perfect IT. Designed specifically for product wholesalers & distributors.

W: www.premio.ie

Solicitors/Legal Services

WorkPermits4Ireland

An experienced, independent immigration consultants based in Ireland offering a personalised fee-based service for both individuals and organisations seeking to obtain work permits in the State.

W: www.workpermits4ireland.com

Wholesalers

M&P O’Sullivan Ltd

A family business since 1905, M&P O’Sullivan Ltd, now into its fourth generation, continue to play an integral role in the Irish Food industry.

W: www.mpos.ie

sponsored by

Annie FitzGibbon, Cork Chamber with Mark Flavin, 3B1. Peter O’Sullivan, Create Analytics Ltd; Paul Murphy, Murphy Mediation and Deirdre Griffin, Cork Chamber.

Our latest New Members Breakfast took place on May 23rd in Fitzgerald House. Our newest members received an overview of their membership benefits, had the opportunity to pitch their business and met the Chamber team.

Team Building Packages

What is Zipit Forest Adventures?

Up to 3 hours of swinging, climbing and ziplining challenges in the treetops f groups of all sizes. Our courses are built in a natural forest setting with one go mind; to give our visitors the best experience possible in the great outdoor

Why should you choose Zipit Forest Adventures for your team building activ

From just €34 per person, your team can test their grip on a climbing wall, ride across a suspended bridge and take in the beautiful views of Farran Woods as th down one of our many ziplines, all with your colleagues by your side. Our pack include our high ropes experience and can be individually catered to your need can even take care of the transport, food and drinks for you, if you've got more

How do you book Zipit Forest Adventures?

You can book your group online at www.zipit.ie or if you have any question or need assistance when booking, you can contact our Customer Care team by email on info@zipit.ie or by phone on 051 858 008.

Some feedback from companies that took part:

5 circuits with up to 90 elements of various difficulties.

Start on the ground and work your way up to 15 metres high in the treetops.

Catering for groups of all sizes, our thrilling experience will ensure your teams remain engaged and, more importantly, have fun from the first ladder to the last zipline!

20% discount for Cork Chamber Members

Hungry for more?

We can include refreshment food and drinks as well as coach transfer to and from Farran Woods. Just ask our Customer Care to include it in your quote.

Have any questions or need assistance when making your booking?

You can contact our Customer Care team by email on info@zipit.ie or by phone on 051 858 008.

BioMarin opens €38m expansion at Shanbally

Global biopharmaceutical company BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. has opened the expansion of its manufacturing plant at Shanbally, Co. Cork. The company has invested €38 million over four years to create a stateof-the-art aseptic production facility. The new facility will manufacture, package and label BioMarin therapies for global distribution. With the expansion, BioMarin will begin end-to-end manufacturing for a number of the company’s commercial products and has the capacity to produce additional clinical and commercial products, including gene therapies, as the company grows its pipeline. “Our wholly-owned, end-to-end manufacturing sites, including Shanbally, are critical to BioMarin’s global supply capabilities,” said Greg Guyer, Ph.D., Chief Technical Officer and Executive Vice President, Technical Operations of BioMarin. “This expansion positions us as a leading manufacturing operation in Ireland and will help us maintain our industry-leading production and delivery capabilities for patients around the world.”

PM Group acquires Cork-based Milestone Solutions

PM Group, the Irish headquartered international project delivery company, has announced the acquisition of automation and digital systems firm, Milestone Solutions (“Milestone”). Milestone specialises in implementing digital technologies to manage and optimise complex manufacturing systems for operational efficiency and regulatory compliance in the Pharma, Life Sciences and FMCG sectors. This strategic acquisition will enhance PM Group’s automation and smart manufacturing service offering to clients in Ireland and internationally. Milestone will operate under the brand Milestone, a PM Group company. Milestone recorded revenues of €18.5m in 2022 and forecasts revenues of circa €25m this year. The company currently has a team of 160 people and has live projects in Ireland, the USA, Belgium and Germany.

“Automation and integration services are key components of our growth strategy and acquiring a top-class company in Milestone will accelerate our ability to become an industry leader in this area,” said PM Group chief executive Dave Murphy.

Osborne Gala Celebrations

It was a night to remember across Osborne as they celebrated 10 phenomenal years since Osborne CEO Shóna McManus took over the company. The Gala Black Tie dinner was held in the magnificent Round Room at the Mansion House, Dublin and WOW – what a night it was! From Keith Barry’s mind-hacking to glow sticks and a limbo dance off, the night had it all!

Pictured are Geraldine Cregan, Executive Director and Quality Site Head, BioMarin; Conor Delaney, VP, Shanbally Operations and Site Leader, BioMarin; Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD, and Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath TD.

Photo: Michael O’Sullivan /OSM PHOTO

Will Wilmot, Managing Director, Milestone Solutions; Rosita Fennell, CFO, PM Group and Dave Murphy, CEO, PM Group

Simply Blue and EDF Renewables team up for offshore wind projects

EDF Renewables Ireland has entered into a partnership to develop the Western Star and Emerald floating wind projects with Simply Blue Group. The partnership is subject to a merger clearance expected in the coming months. The 50:50 joint venture partners will now seek to progress the two projects to meet Irish Government targets to have 2GW of floating wind in development by 2030. The two projects would together generate enough low-carbon electricity to power approximately two million Irish homes. Val Cummins, Project Managing Director for Emerald and Western Star, added “the partnership is ideally placed to deliver for Phase 3 of offshore wind in Ireland. This is key to kick-starting floating offshore wind, which will have a transformational positive impact on Ireland’s maritime and energy landscape, including the coastal communities in Cork and Clare.”

PepsiCo unveils Ireland’s largest rooftop solar panel installation

PepsiCo unveiled Ireland’s largest rooftop solar panel installation at its facility in Carrigaline, Co. Cork. The project commenced in 2022 and was completed in April 2023. In total, there are over 4,500 individual solar panels that make up the installation. This development coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Carrigaline facility opening, nearly 50 years after PepsiCo’s Little Island facility opened in 1974. The solar panel installation will significantly reduce the amount of electricity used by PepsiCo’s Carrigaline facility. Over the course of a year, the solar panels will provide 25% of the electricity required by the site. During the summer months, the solar installation will have the capacity to provide 100% of the site’s electricity needs.

Irish International Trading Corporation acquires Curust Industries Ltd

Irish International Trading Corporation (IITC) is an expanded group with revenues of more than €80m in 2022 and employee numbers of 135. IITC is a diversified business which operates across several different markets and sectors. One of Ireland’s leading distributors of hardware, wire, steel, salt, plumbing materials and bathroom supplies, IITC is a nationwide business with distribution centres in Cork, Naas and Dublin. The acquisition of Curust is in line with its broader growth and investment strategy.

“The acquisition of Curust Industries is a strategic move for IITC,” according to David Heffernan, MD, IITC Group. “IITC is a growing and expanding group with very ambitious

plans. Both IITC and Curust are long established and successful businesses – IITC has been trading for over 100 years, while Curust has been operating for more than 70 years. We are delighted to be adding leading brands such as Douglas, Tessi and Löwe to our stable of products. We are confident that, together, we will continue to grow and expand these brands while serving our customers to the high standards that both IITC and Curust set. This acquisition is in line with our growth strategy and we look forward to exploring further opportunities for expansion in the future.”

Val Cummins, Project Managing Director for Emerald and Western Star and Ryanne Burges, Director of Offshore and Ireland at EDF Renewables

The Tánaiste, Micheál Martin TD, Randall Lovorn, SVP and GM, PepsiCo Global Concentrate Solutions, Vince Goggin, Site Lead - Manufacturing Director and Michael McGrath TD, Minister for Finance

Recent Announcements

Cormac Walshe, Abtran

Abtran has recently appointed Cormac Walshe as their new Managing Director. Cormac’s experience includes leading multilingual tech support operations and delivering large-scale transformation projects and enterprise-wide IT capabilities. His industry knowledge spans management consultancy, financial services, e-commerce, and telecommunications with a focus on customer experience, self-service and automation. He has led global teams across enterprise brands including Accenture, Amazon, Hewlett-Packard, Peloton and Vodafone. Cormac will lead Abtran’s growth initiatives across new industries and geographies, as they expand their digital, managed services, and business process management capabilities.

Maureen Fox, The Open University in Ireland

The Open University in Ireland welcomes Maureen Fox as Business Relationship Manager. Maureen joins with 19 years’ experience in business development in the higher education market. As an institution dedicated to providing high-quality, flexible education around the world, The Open University relies on experienced professionals to help drive growth and development. With her appointment the University looks forward to leveraging their expertise to help build on its successes and expand its offerings in Ireland and beyond.

Tom Gannon

Velo Coffee Roasters is pleased to announce the appointment of Tom Gannon as their new Non-Executive Director. Gannon brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the organisation from his years of experience in the food industry. Gannon’s systematic success across brands such as Red Bull, Fulfill & Cali Cali will accelerate Velo Coffee’s growth to the next level.

Velo is continuously pushing towards growth and development. The team has grown every year and they are always working to build and improve the brand and the product. In this next stage for the Cork Roastery, they plan to further expand the brand across Ireland and internationally with Tom’s guidance.

“We are thrilled to welcome Tom to the Velo Coffee team,” said Rob Horgan. “Tom’s extensive experience in FMCG and his proven track record of success makes him the ideal candidate to help steer our growth. We are lucky to be able to tap into his knowledge and experience.”

Declan Clancy, ePresence Digital Marketing

Leading digital marketing agency ePresence has appointed Declan Clancy as Director of Business Development. Declan has over 10 years’ experience working in digital marketing with previous roles in the technology and hospitality industries. He has played a significant role in transforming some of Ireland’s best loved brands and in his new role Declan will be responsible for leading the ePresence strategic growth initiatives, enhancing the broad digital service offering and continuing to manage a diverse client portfolio.

Karen O’Donoghue, Irish Examiner and The Echo

Karen O’Donoghue has been named Managing Director of the Irish Examiner and The Echo. During her time as Marketing Director at the Irish Examiner and The Echo she oversaw the branding strategy for both titles, managed the introduction of data analytics, the rebrand of the Evening Echo to The Echo and Echolive.ie and has led the integration of the Irish Examiner’s subscription offering, which now boasts 20,000 digital and home delivery subscribers.

Velo Coffee Roasters appoints

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